Recipe Name:	Pan Roasted Duck Breasts	Submitted by:	Samantha
Source:		Source Description:	Chef Michael Smith
Ethnicity:	American	Last Modified:	8/28/2006
Base:	Poultry	Approximate Cost:	$0.65
Course:	Entree	Comments:
Difficulty:	Intermediate	From "Chef at Home" on Discovery Home Channel - Duck is one of those meats that may seem intimidating at first, but once you get to know it, it is as easy as cooking any other type of poultry. Its flavour is much richer than chicken and it is usually served medium-rare so the meat doesn't dry out.
Preparation Time:	30-60 Minutes
Number of Servings:	4

Ingredients: 2 Muscovy breasts duck 2 Tablespoon(s) dried thyme 4 Tablespoon(s) grainy mustard 1 Tablespoon(s) soy sauce 2 Cup(s) frozen gnocchi 1/2 Cup(s) frozen peas 10 thinly sliced leaves sage 2 Tablespoon(s) butter 1 to taste salt 1 to taste pepper

Directions: Preparing the duck rubbing mixture: Place all ingredients into a re-sealable plastic bag, seal it and mix well, rubbing mixture all over the duck breasts. Put into refrigerator for 30 minutes. Preparing the duck: Remove duck breasts from plastic bag and with a sharp knife score the fat at 1-inch wide intervals. Turn the breasts on a 90-degree angle and score again to form a criss-cross pattern. This will help to prevent shrinkage during cooking. Place a skillet over medium-high heat and when very hot begin to sear the duck breasts, skin side down. Cook for 10 minutes and then turn and cook for an additional 3 to 5 minutes. Duck breasts should be medium-rare. Allow to rest for 15 minutes so the juices may be reabsorbed. Preparing the gnocchi: Put a large pot of water on to boil. Salt the boiling water and add the gnocchi. When it begins to float it is done, about 3 to 5 minutes. Drain in a colander. Heat a large sauté pan and melt the butter. Add the cooked gnocchi and the peas and sauté for about 3 minutes. Stir in the sage and season with salt and pepper. To serve, slice the duck breast thinly. Place a spoonful of gnocchi in a bowl and arrange slices of duck around it.